Global Warming & Climate Change

The extreme weather of Winter 2009-2010 -- with heavy snowfall in some places and unusually low temperatures -- is in fact a sign of how climate change disrupts long-standing patterns, according to a report by EarthShare member National Wildlife Federation.

Overwhelming scientific consensus and real-life examples of impact tell us that global warming is real, and a significant threat to our health, economy and environment. Skeptical about that consensus? Read this.

Over the last two centuries, industrial activities, deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have released high concentrations of heat-trapping agents called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And while a certain amount of greenhouse gas is important to keep our climate warm and livable, these higher concentrations are warming the Earth’s surface to temperatures previously unseen.

These warm-ups are responsible for rising sea levels (from melting glaciers and ice shelves), the melting of permafrost, changes in the distribution of plants and animals and the lengthening of seasons. Some scientists have long suspected that the warming trend is also behind the increase of catastrophic storms and hurricanes we’ve experienced in the last few years.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change could increase the risk of some infectious diseases—particularly those diseases occurring in warm areas—including malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis. Furthermore, poor air quality caused by pollution may exacerbate existing respiratory conditions like asthma and other chronic lung diseases.

Other health concerns, according to EarthShare member Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), include deadly heat waves, drought, food and water shortages and international conflict. Rising sea levels, desertification and depleted aquifers could displace millions of people from their homes.

Though the facts and figures of climate change are sobering, it’s not too late to clean up the planet. Here at EarthShare, we’re committed to doing exactly that — working with our member organizations to support earth-friendly initiatives.

Get involved by making an online donation, or by introducing the EarthShare employee program to your workplace. By supporting environmental and conservation organizations, you can do your part to protect and preserve public health and our natural resources. We also encourage you to check out our resources below to help you reduce your carbon footprint.

• Climate Change Calculator, American Forests*
• Calculate Your Personal Impact, Environmental Defense Fund* 
• What You Can Do, Environmental Defense Fund*
• Voluntary Carbon Offset Program, The Nature Conservancy*
• Buying Carbon Offsets: What You Need to Know, NRDC*
• 10 Things You Can Do to Curb Global Warming, Sierra Club
• The 2% Solution, Sierra Club
• Take Action to Combat Climate Change, World Wildlife Fund*

• VIDEO // EXTREME WEATHER: Weird Winter's link to Global Warming, National Wildlife Federation
• Climate Change: Briefings, Updates & News, Environmental and Energy Study Institute*
• Global Warming by the Numbers, Environmental Defense Fund*
• Global Warming News Center, Union of Concerned Scientists*
• Impacts of Global Warming, Union of Concerned Scientists*
• Climate Change: Confronting a Global Challenge [PDF], World Wildlife Fund*

• American Carbon Offsets, Carbon Footprint
• Climate Change News Update, Environmental and Energy Study Institute*
• The Pew Center on Global Climate Change
• Climate Change and Human Health, World Health Organization
• Gateway to the United Nations’ Work on Climate Change
• Global Warming and Our National Parks, National Parks Conservation Association*

  * EarthShare member organization